This is the 2687th most frequent Japanese word.
演じ
"演じ" means "to perform" or "to act."
In this sentence, 演じ (enji) is used to describe the act of portraying a role or character during a performance.
彼は舞台で英雄を演じた。
He played a hero on stage.
Here, 演じ (enji) is used metaphorically to signify putting on or pretending to show certain emotions or demeanor.
彼女は現状を受け入れるため、少し無理に気丈さを演じていた。
She pretended to be strong to cope with the situation.
In this instance, 演じ (enji) is used to convey the act of maintaining a facade or outward behavior for a specific impression.